Come Rest in the Presence of the Holy One: Resource for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year A

Call to Worship

Leader: Come rest in the presence of the Holy One

People: Even if there is darkness within us?

Leader: Come into the light.

People: We will find healing and strength for the journey.

Prayer of Confession
(For use with John 3:1-17)

In humility and fear we come, asking the questions of our souls.
We come in vulnerabilitym seeking the answers we should know.
We come acknowledging who we are … failure and all…

Silence

Hymn of Reflection: "Just As I Am," 357, United Methodist Hymnal

Words of Assurance

Just as Jesus was in a face-to-face meeting with Nicodemus that night, Jesus is face-to-face with you -- even when you are questioning and doubting. You are accepted and challenged. You are not condemned, but renewed and saved by the light of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

People Respond: Thanks Be to God!

Worship Setting: A visual image of a simple wooden table with two chairs and one candle in the center -- a reminder of Jesus and Nicodemus fully present to one another in an intimate face-to-face conversation.

This resource was written by participants in a workshop conducted by the Rev. Heather Williams of the Upper New York Annual Conference. The Rev. Williams is currently the pastor of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Camillus, New York.